Bold modern floral motifs and other unexpected digitally produced prints from photographs of nature and people are also among spring's extraordinary — and wearable — works of art.

Also look for hyper hues of orange, red, yellow, every shade of blue — all led by emerald and its many shades of green. Add to the mix the always commanding one-two graphic contrast of black and white as well as softer nudes and beige to temper the palette.

Lace, too, is no longer low-key and is loveliest when worn all over. Like leather, it is front and center. And when both are worked into a single garment, the result is a perfect balance between edgy and elegant.

Plenty of wearable, attractive and refreshed clothes, too, are here for spring. The standouts include short suits, A-line and full skirts and dresses — and more dresses, from a straight shift to a free-flowing chemise to a drop-waist, all worked with flounces, cut-outs, textural mash-ups and sheer veils for a spring sure to get you out of your comfort zone.

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From saturated bright colors to soft pastels, lace, the epitome of femininity, has re-emerged for spring. The versatile fabric can be seen in a number of varieties, from thick heavy lace to lightweight sheers. It comes in vibrant colors (red, blue, lavender and green) as shown by Vera Wang, Emilio Pucci, Oscar de la Renta and Tadashi. While a Chantilly lace dress was the most popular offering, lace also was used as an accent on many garments as an overlay, embellishment or appliqué and often was combined with leather for a tender and tough vibe.

Leather

Leather is not usually thought of as a spring material, but for several seasons designers have included the supple skin, treating it like fabric. For spring, leather is dyed bright and draped to create dresses, tops, slim-fit trousers and shorts. Leather trims and insets add a deluxe accent when incorporated into a simple silhouette. Ralph Lauren's buttery leathers were bright red and turquoise. Reem Acra's came in bright green and white. Jason Wu stuck to sexy black leather and Max and Lubov Azria accessorized dresses with leather harnesses for their BCBG collection.

Sheer

Sheer detailing in mesh, netting or lightweight fabrics, the latter featuring laser-cut holes, panels or stripes, is a spring breakout trend — one that strikes a careful balance of exposing a flash of flesh while maintaining a level of sophistication. The peek-a-boo effect also is accomplished with random cuts and gashes. Other dresses look as if they have been cut apart and sewn back together with sheer swaths connecting the puzzled pieces. Other garments are veiled in sheer overlays. The look isn't for the shy, but can be worn conservatively with stylish layering.

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Spring: what to wear

What are the hot spring looks in San Antonio? Local stores offer their top five spring picks for what’s most likely to make it out their doors and into your wardrobe.

Stripes — printed, woven or knitted — are far from new, but they look important this spring in key collections from Marc Jacobs who worked with awning-size stripes, mostly in black and white. Michael Kors preferred red and green. Tommy Hilfiger dabbled with mattress ticking strips. Ralph Lauren chose serape stripes. Alice + Olivia went multicolored.

Florals are always a rite of spring, and this season the flowers are blooming with chrysanthemum prints at Marni, bold cherry blossoms and mega-size daisies at Prada and flowers mixed with stripes with geometric shapes from Tom Mora of J. Crew.

Thanks to technology, digital prints have become visually exciting because they often look more like paintings than fabric. These prints are newest when they are smudgy or indistinct, often imitating texture, or when they look like photographs. Among the season's best are Monique Lhuillier's swirls of blue, inspired by water and Proenza Schouler's photographic prints of sunbathers and swimmers.

Dresses

Shape is always an important seasonal change, and there are some important dress shapes this spring, from body-conscious styles to a freer form. Popular will be straight or A-line silhouettes and new voluminous shapes with draping for flattering results on every figure. Look for dresses featuring oversized ruffles, romantic lace and sexy peek-a-boo treatments. Sheer chiffon overlays or veiled techniques make for a layered look. Dresses in collaged fabrics offer an artistic mash-up expression.

Skirts

Skirts of every style take a leading role for spring. But old-fashioned femininity is recalled by A-line and full skirts, the latter reminiscent of Christian's Dior's “New Look” of 1947. The newer skirt is rich with complex cuts and uneven hemlines. They're often draped or flounced and can be dressed up or down with coordinating tops, sleeveless sheer blouses and white shirts with voluminous sleeves. Lengths vary, but when a skirt doesn't have a surprisingly long hemline, it should hover slightly above or at the knee.

Shorts

Pantsuits have been popular for several seasons and still hold their own this time around. But it's the shorts' suit — tailored shorts with a matching jacket — that looks fresher than ever. Shorts also come in a variety of lengths from very short to just above the knee. Some are skin tight and others are blousy. Short-shorts, not as brief as hot pants, continue to gain more acceptance away from the tennis court and into the cocktail hour in lace, leather and sparkly fabrics. When not worn with a jacket, shorts can be teamed with softly styled voluminous tops — some with sleeves, some not.